Chief Economist

Ofgem is Great Britains independent energy regulator. Our primary responsibility is to protect energy consumers, especially the most vulnerable, while at the same time working with government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a clean, more affordable and secure net-zero energy system at the lowest cost to consumers and drive economic growth.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.

The successful candidate will lead Ofgem through a period of significant system and regulatory evolution, ensuring the organisation is equipped to operate effectively in a more dynamic, investment-driven and consumer-focused energy system. This includes embedding the direction set by the governments Review of Ofgem whilst strengthening Ofgems role as a forward-looking economic regulator.

Working closely with the Board and Executive team, the CEO will ensure Ofgem delivers against its statutory duties, maintains its independence and authority, and builds the capability, credibility and relationships required to support the future energy system.

The successful candidate will lead the evolution of Ofgems regulatory approach, ensuring it reflects a high-investment, delivery focused energy system, including the development of more outcome-based and incentivised regulatory frameworks, particularly across network companies. Whilst embedding the direction set by the governments Review of Ofgem and the three statutory duties protecting consumers, supporting net zero, and enabling economic growth ensuring these are balanced effectively in regulatory decision-making.

Ofgem is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of open and fair competition, merit and business need.

We are seeking an outstanding economist to lead Ofgems economics function at a moment of unprecedented visibility and importance. You will lead Ofgems 50-strong economics and analysis team and provide professional leadership to Ofgems wider community of around 60 economists, ensuring that robust economic analysis sits at the heart of regulatory decision-making. In addition to serving as Ofgems Chief Economist, the postholder will provide strategic leadership across Ofgems wider analytical capability, ensuring that economics, data, insight and analysis are deployed effectively to support regulatory decision-making and organisational priorities. As the most senior analytical leader in the organisation, they will champion analytical excellence and evidence-based decision making across Ofgem.

As Chief Economist, you will direct and assure economic advice across a diverse and high-profile portfolio, including retail market reforms, network price controls and competition issues. You will hold ultimate responsibility for the quality, coherence and influence of that advice supporting decisions that balance affordability for consumers with the investment needed to deliver net zero at least cost. You will be a recognised expert in the economics of energy markets, or in regulatory/competition economics. You will provide authoritative advice to the Board (GEMA) and Executive Committee and be able to explain and defend Ofgems economic analysis in adversarial settings where required. You will report to the CEO and be part of the Executive Committee and represent Ofgem to senior leaders across industry, government and the economics profession.

A core part of the role is professional leadership: developing capability, setting standards, and ensuring Ofgems economists are supported to do impactful, policy-shaping work. You will be a strong people leader, committed to inclusive, high-performing teams. Working at Ofgem provides an opportunity to influence and make decisions affecting every household and business in Great Britain and ultimately supports our economic growth and international competitiveness.

As Chief Economist, you will play a pivotal role in protecting consumers, enabling net zero and supporting growth when the contribution Ofgem makes has never been more visible or more important.

Key skills / capabilities required

• Demonstrate visible commitment as a senior leader that fosters and supports diversity and inclusion.
• Effective resource management including the ability to identify priorities and flex resources to meet them.
• To have, or be able to develop quickly, a strong network amongst the government and regulatory economic community.

Essential Criteria

• Strong track record of applying economic analysis in energy or to other complex regulatory, market and public policy challenges.
• Senior and credible leader with experience building and leading high performing multidisciplinary analytical teams, including economists, statisticians and data scientists, within complex, large-scale, highly regulated environments.
• Deep expertise in the use of economic modelling, econometrics, data analysis, and advanced analytical techniques to evaluate markets, assess regulatory interventions, forecast outcomes, and support evidence-based decision making.
• Highly credible advisor to very senior decision-makers with the ability to build trust and influence e.g. with Boards, Chief Executives, ministers, and other senior stakeholders.